In summer 2002, a Task Force was appointed by the South Carolina Legislature to study the feasibility of a statewide monitoring program to capture information about birth defects in our state.  The task force was also asked to determine how such a monitoring program should work. In May of 2004, Act Number 281, the SC Birth Defects Act, was passed, authorizing the SC Birth Defects Program within the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Recent Success:

The South Carolina state 2006-07 fiscal year budget has been approved for $244,250 in non-recurring funds and $608,161 in recurring funds.  The non-recurring funds will be used for needed software to set up data collection, computers, office equipment and supplies.  The recurring funds will provide for necessary personnel, including the full-time coordinator, six case abstracters and a data manager; additional part-time staff would include a clinical consultant, an epidemiologist and an administrative specialist.

What will this stable funding provide?

1.       Information:   Birth Defects information plays a key role in accurately identifying birth defect incidence, facilitating birth defect prevention and in improvement of health outcomes.

2.      Services:   Monitoring programs enable referral of the child and family for clinical services, genetic counseling, early interventions, special needs programs, family support programs and other resources.

3.      Epidemiology:   Accurate data, with statistical analysis, are the only means to know precise incidence, identify (or refute) clusters or “epidemics,” assess geographic trends, and examine trends over time.

4.      Cost Savings:  Each year’s birth defects in South Carolina carry lifetime medical and educational costs of about $100 million.  The SC Birth Defects Program, costing less than 1% of this amount, can favorably impact incidence, recurrence and outcomes with many birth defects.  Our current SC Neural Tube Defect system (1992-2002) costs approximately $1.1 million annually, but saves approximately $15-20 million in direct costs. This system has been credited with reducing serious birth defects of the brain and spinal cord in South Carolina by 60% and is considered a national model.

5.      Research and Education:  The program will facilitate education for both health care providers and families, and will be a resource for academic research into understanding and preventing birth defects.

How did March of Dimes contribute to the success?

• Since 1998, the SC Chapter, MOD has invested 1.9 million dollars to the implementation and operation of the birth defects surveillance project formally housed at the Greenwood Genetic Center
• Advocacy efforts through March of Dimes lobbyist and lobby day activities
• Active participation on the Birth Defects Task Force meeting